THE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S
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tude of th e world are those who survive through ch aracter ra th e r than achieve ment. It is n o t so much what they did as w hat they were. They are the men whose submission to th e w ill of God made them forgetful of self and who lived not to be m inistered unto bu t to m inister. It is only character th a t abides. “He th a t doeth the will of God abid- eth forever. Abraham may be regarded as the first of th e pilgrim fathers. The word He brew is derived from Eber, the remote ancestor, and means san em igrant or One who has crossed the river. The first man who crossed th e river Euphrates to seek a home in a d istan t land was a pioneer and a crusader. There has al ways been in human history a little band of idealists and dreamers who con fessed th a t they were strang ers and pil grims on th e earth. Bunyan describes in quaint language th eir passage through Vanity F air. The two outstanding features of Abraham ’s pilgrim life were th e te n t and the altar. The ten t was for himself, the a lta r .was for God. For one hundred years afte r leaving Chaldea by Divine command he lived a nomadic life -w ithout a settled abode. He was always on the move. The rea'son for this is given in Heb. 11:9, R. V. His tru e home was beyond th e stars. The a lta r speaks of sacrifice and self-sur render. The tent-life of separation is joined w ith the a'ltar-life of heavenly fellowship. A braham 's altq r was not only for himself. It was for his family also. God said, “ I know Abraham , th a t he will command his children and his household afte r him .” Gen. 18:19. It was a family, altar. This is the great need in the home life of today. Mani fold are the duties and responsibilities of the Christian life. The first and most im portant of all is to show piety at home. 1 Tim. 5:4. This finds outlet and expression in the maintenance of th e family altar.
(N ote: The wide ran g e of S crip tu re given for th e ensuing lessons m akes it im possible to follow th e plan of verse-b y -v erse com - m ent.W e will therefore m ake su ch selections a» m ay a ssist the teach er in covering the ground.) 1. The beginning of faith . “The Lord said” (Gen. 12 :1 ). F a ith has no existence ap a rt from revelation. N ature is a revelation of God’s handi work. Christ is God m anifest in the flesh. The w rit- COMMENTS ten Word is the SELECTED u n f o l d i n g of By K eith L. Brooks Christ th e living Word; and by th a t Word, heard as the voice of God, faith is begotten in th e soul, for faith cometh by hearing an d hearing by the Word of God (Rom. 10 :17 ). 2. The call of faith . “ Get thee ou t” (Gen. 12 :1 ). Abram is called to separate, himself from his country and kindred. It was no light task, but faith is always obedient (Heb. 11 :8 ). The same principle applies to th e be liever in Christ. Christ says we must be willing to leave all to follow Him, and no earth ly relation must hinder. See the th ree “ cannots” in Luke 14: 26-33. 3. The prom ise of faith . See th e ' four “ I w ills” in verses 1, 2 an d 3. When the Lord says, “ I w ill,” it means -that He gives the power to perform . His “ I w ill” is th e name to th e check th a t is honored at heaven’s bank. The “Thou sh a lt” of the law only brought consternation and condemnation, but the “ I will” of grace always brings consecration and consolation to faith. 4. The blessing of faith . “Be thou a blessing” (v. 2, R. V ,). F aith , hav ing received the promise of God, and thu stb eing blessed by God, is now re sponsible to be a blessing. Notice the R. V. gives the more correct reading. Every blessing and privilege of grace brings a corresponding responsibility. Having received, we are to give (Jn. 6 :11 ). Having heard, we are to tell (Jn. 4:29; 1 Jn. 1 :3 ). Having found, we are to find (Jn. 1 :45). 5. The obedience of faith , “Abram departed as the Lord had spoken” (v.4). It was enough for Abram th a t he ha'd God’s command to leave his kin and country; so, to faith, it is suf ficient th a t th e Lord speaks, for it to act. From reason’s standpoint it was a foolish., thing for Abram to leave . home not knowing where he was going (Heb. 1 1 :8 ), but it was
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